Greek youths take over TV, radio stations

Tuesday

Dec 16, 2008 at 11:33 AMDec 16, 2008 at 11:36 AM

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Greek protesters pushed
their way into television and radio studios Tuesday, forcing
broadcasters to put out anti-government messages in a change of tactics
after days of violent street protests.

A
group of about 10 youths got into the studio of NET state television
and turned off a broadcast of a speech by Prime Minister Costas
Karamanlis, station officials said. The protesters forced studio
cameras to instead show them holding up banners that read: "Stop
watching, get out onto the streets," and "Free everyone who has been
arrested." No one was hurt, and no arrests were reported.

NET chairman Christos Panagopoulos said the protesters appeared to know how to operate cameras and studio controls.

"This goes beyond any limit," he said.

In
the northern city of Thessaloniki, protesters made their way into three
local radio stations, agreeing to leave only when a protest message was
read out on the air.

Violence also broke out
again after a two-day lull as masked youths attacked riot police
headquarters in Athens and protesters clashed with police in
Thessaloniki.

In
Thessaloniki, riot police fired tear gas to disperse 300 youths
throwing fruit and stones outside the city's main court complex. The
disturbance followed a court decision that found eight police officers
guilty of abusing a student following riots two years ago.

The
fatal police shooting of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos on Dec. 6
set off violence that led to more than 300 arrested and left hundreds
of stores smashed and looted. Retailers say the damage will cost them
euro1.5 billion ($2 billion) in lost income.

Protesters
have called for riot officers to be pulled off the streets and for
police to be disarmed. But the protests tapped into wider discontent
with Karamanlis' conservative government and there have been widespread
calls for the government to revise its economic, social and education
policies.

Higher education in Greece has come
to a standstill. Lessons have stopped at more than 100 secondary
schools that are under occupation by students, according to the
Education Ministry. Scores of university buildings across Greece are
also occupied.

Greece's opposition
Socialists, who are calling for early elections, accused Karamanlis of
mishandling the crisis which they said had worsened the effects of the
international economic downturn.

"Greeks are
losing their patience. Their salary is running out before the end of
the month as they endure a major economic crisis, and at the same time
can see the state collapsing," Socialist spokesman Giorgos
Papaconstantinou said.

"People want answers to their problems, not speeches."

Karamanlis
insisted his government has acted "calmly and responsibly" in dealing
with riots, avoiding the loss of life. But for the first time since the
violence erupted, he acknowledged the public's sense of frustration.

"Of
course there are broader issues," he said. "People experience a lack or
merit, corruption in their daily lives, and a sense of social
injustice."

In Athens main Syntagma Square,
Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis relaunched holiday celebrations after the
city's Christmas tree was torched by rioters last week.

A
small group of protesters chanted slogans during tree-lighting
ceremony, as hundreds of revelers looked on. The protesters, mostly
students from various drama schools, handed out fliers that read:
"Lavish storefront and Christmas Trees will not hide the reality."